You should spend about 40 minutes on IELTS writing task 2.
In the past, most people worked for small businesses, while more people now work for large businesses. What are the advantages and disadvantages of working for large businesses?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. You should write at least 250 words.
Sample Answer
Thanks to capitalism, more and more business conglomerates are replacing small businesses. Accordingly, the number of people employed by these big businesses is increasing exponentially. This essay will discuss both sides to this issue.
There are many advantages to working in large companies. Firstly, jobs in these companies are relatively steady. Since the big companies have an established position compared to any small business, they do not go through high attrition cycles unless a catastrophe occurs. For example, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck the world, many small businesses were completely shut, but big businesses were able to weather the storm with little difficulty. Another advantage of working for large organizations is that they offer competitively higher salaries and other benefits. For instance, an employee of the Hilton Corporation can benefit from subsidized medical benefits and can also take advantage of employee-only pricing. Large conglomerates also provide their employees with an opportunity to travel and work in their branches in different parts of the world. Thus, working for such large companies is preferred by many people.
It also comes with some demerits. It is observed that people working for big companies have lower job satisfaction. This is because they are entrusted with fewer responsibilities, and it is not possible to grow beyond the specific department one is working in. For example, in an IT company, an employee has to perform the same jobs day after day, and the prospects of growth are limited. One more disadvantage of working for big companies is that life can be quite stressful. Due to the high level of competition among the big companies, their employees’ clock in longer working hours. In small businesses, however, people often contribute to diverse fields and do not have to cope with high levels of stress.
In conclusion, the current trend of big companies replacing traditional local businesses is progressively increasing. As we discussed in the essay, there are some obvious benefits to this change, but it certainly comes with some disadvantages.
Structure of the essay
You are asked to write an advantages/disadvantages essay. This precisely means that you have to explain the advantages and disadvantages.
Remember to jot down all the points (advantages & disadvantages) before you begin the essay.
Introduction: Thanks to capitalism, more and more business conglomerates are replacing small businesses. Accordingly, the number of people employed by these big businesses is increasing exponentially. This essay will discuss both sides to this issue.
Body Paragraph 1:
Advantages:
- Jobs in large companies are steady
- Big companies don’t go through high attrition cycles unless a catastrophe occurs
- Competitively higher salaries and other benefits
Body Paragraph 2:
Disadvantages:
- Lower job satisfaction
- Not possible to grow beyond a specific department
- Life can be quite stressful because of high competition.
Conclusion: Summarised the advantages and disadvantages.